SAINTS NIP SHARKS FOR TRIP TO GNAC SEMIFINALS
Nov. 3, 2009
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Women's Volleyball Team defeated Simmons College, 3-1, on Tuesday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal match played in the Jean Yawkey Center. The 3rd-seeded Saints escaped a tough Sharks team, which held a solid lead in three of the four sets. Emmanuel's tournament experience paid off, as the Saints edged the 6th-seeded Sharks in four sets, 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23.
Simmons came out strong, holding a seven-point lead early in the opening set. Emmanuel rallied late in the game to take the 25-23 win. The Sharks won the second set, 25-21, and the Saints rebounded to easily win the third, 25-15. The nail-biting fourth set came down to the wire. The Sharks held a three-point lead at 23-20, but Emmanuel was able to rattle off five unanswered points to come away with the 25-23 win.
The Saints had a balanced offensive attack with Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.), Diana Grimaldi (Sandy Hook, Conn.), and Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio) racking up 7 kills apiece. Freshman libero Samantha Andazola (Queen Creek, Ariz.) led the Emmanuel defense with 28 digs. The strong backrow play of Megan Clary (Cumberland, R.I.), who gathered 26 digs on the night, helped the Saints to win the fourth and deciding set. Ross played a strong all around game, chipping in with 24 digs. The Emmanuel defense combined for 114 digs as a team. Team setter Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.) dished out 22 assists, while senior middle Nicole McAllister (Hampden, Me.) tallied 4 blocks and 2 aces in the win.
Emmanuel will now advance to take on the 2nd-seeded Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University on Thursday night (11/5) in the GNAC Semifinals. The match will be played on the campus of Johnson & Wales and will begin at 7pm. The winner of this match will play for the GNAC Championship on Saturday afternoon.